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toplines: Tempting Fate

Even Americans who aren't bewitched or bothered by most
superstitions are bewildered enough to buy into some of them.

As children, we're told that if you step on a crack you'll break
your mother's back, but if you find a penny and pick it up, all day
long you'll have good luck. Is America a nation of believers?

An exclusive survey conducted for American Demographics by
research firm Market Facts, indicates only 44 percent of us are
willing to admit that we're superstitious. The remaining 56 percent
are "optimistically superstitious," meaning we're more willing to
believe the good over the bad. For example, 12 percent of those who
say they don't buy into the folklore, do believe that knocking on
wood brings good luck. What's more, 9 percent of those who don't
believe in superstitions do, however, accept that finding a penny
brings good luck. Nine percent of non-believers also say the same
of a four-leaf clover, while 11 percent give credence to kissing
under the mistletoe.

Of the 44 percent of Americans who admit to being superstitious,
65 percent say they are "only a little," 27 percent are "somewhat,"
and 8 percent are "very" superstitious. Interestingly, while women
comprise 60 percent of all superstitious persons, 64 percent of the
"very" superstitious are male. In another twist, more younger
people buy into the folklore than their older counterparts: 64
percent of adults aged 18 to 24 are at least a little superstitious
compared with 30 percent of those 65 and older.

What's more, if you believe education enlightenment makes
someone less superstitious, think again. Whereas 42 percent of
Americans with a high school education or less report being at
least a little superstitious, 47 percent of their college-educated
counterparts claim the same. But what student trying to pass
physics wouldn't?

In our survey, respondents were asked if they believed in 10
commonly-held superstitions, five thought to bring good luck and
five to bring bad. Optimism seems to rule: Four of the five most
widely held superstitions are the ones that bring on the good (see
chart).

But not everyone believes as strongly in each superstition -
good or bad. For example, while only 13 percent of the population
at large believes that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, 30
percent of 18- to 24-year-olds think so. Interestingly, the nine
installments of the horror movie series Friday the 13th were
released during this set's formative years (1980-1993).
Coincidence? Perhaps.

And what survey about superstitions would be complete without
asking what we do to improve our luck? Listen up, lottery and
gaming officials: one-quarter of all Americans have a lucky number.
And the younger crowd is even more apt to count their lucky stars -
40 percent of them have a favorite digit. This group is also the
most likely to carry something like a coin, a rabbit's foot, or a
necklace for good luck. Twenty-seven percent of them carry around a
lucky charm compared with 13 percent of the total population. But
what about a lucky article of clothing? Eight percent of Americans
wear their luck on their sleeve (or pants, or socks, etc.).
Slightly more men than women (8 percent versus 7 percent) have a
lucky shirt or the like. But maybe that's just an easy excuse for
not doing laundry.